A repentant Lord Saatchi gives himself a thorough flailing today. "After most election defeats, the race is to blame someone," the former Tory chairman says in a new Centre for Policy Studies (pdf) pamphlet. "I blame myself." The subsequent list of 14 personal failings bears a remarkable similarity, in form and style, to Michael Howard's much mocked 'I Believe' credo of 2004, which Lord Saatchi helped to draw up. Among other things, he blames himself for letting Mr Howard obey focus groups slavishly, publish a thin manifesto and avoid talking about the economy.
"We have to discover a noble purpose," he told the Telegraph. He refuses to endorse any of the potential leadership candidates, preferring to recommend the strategy of cutting taxes in the name of individual freedom - a Republican policy that many Tories are keen to copy. But would this be enough to resurrect the party's appeal? And if so, who is the man or woman to do it? Over to you.
